whirlybird slang (orig. U.S.).
(ˈhwɜːlɪbɜːd)
[f. whirly- + bird n.]
A helicopter.
| 1951 Air Facts 1 July 30/1 The biggest untold story out of Korea is of a few score unarmed American helicopters and a handful of pilots who have flown themselves and their ‘whirlybirds’ into military history. 1959 Sunday Times 26 Apr. 31/4 The noise which piston-engined ‘whirly-birds’ inevitably make causes no nuisance to workers in London. 1983 Chicago Sun-Times 28 July 82/1 The Bellwood-based whirlybird company has asked Civil Aeronautics Board approval to operate regularly scheduled flights. |